In Question Time, I asked the planning minister to protect the inner city from the loss of low cost and net housing. Developers are buying into buildings with many studio and one bedroom flats to redevelop into a small number of luxury apartments. The minister said the government is working towards making sure there are housing options for “all ages and income brackets” and referred to the City of Sydney’s proposed ‘no net loss’ planning rules that would prohibit developments that reduce the number of dwellings on a site by more than 15 percent. These proposed rules are awaiting state government approval. The minister also talked about the government’s new affordable housing policy which allows developers to build higher and wider than planning rules allow if they provide social and affordable housing. Paradoxically the policy is being used to justify redevelopment of The Chimes from providing 80 low-cost homes to providing 34 large opulent apartments in a building that would massively exceed height and floor space allowances in exchange for just nine affordable homes for 15 years. I hope that the minister delivers on his commitment to affordable housing and rejects the development application. 

My question > HERE.